World Jewish Relief fielded its largest ever team of runners in this year’s London Marathon.  Twenty one people from across the UK, Italy and France donned World Jewish Relief vests and joined more than 40,000 runners on the streets of London, for the 37^th race in the event’s history. The World Jewish Relief runners were cheered on by family, friends and staff members along the length of the 26 mile course and were greeted at the end with well deserved snacks, smiles and certificates. They have already raised more than £43,000 for the charity.

Paul Anticoni, World Jewish Relief’s Chief Executive, says, “It is incredible to have a Marathon team like this with so many people putting in the training and commitment to support World Jewish Relief. It’s a tremendous achievement and a life-changing experience, not just for the runners but for all the people the money raised will benefit.”

Immediately after the race, one of the runners, Lewis Nelken, admitted “I am in pain but most of all I’m very happy because it’s an incredible achievement. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for about 6 or 7 years and it’s very overwhelming having finished. The atmosphere was absolutely incredible with the crowd screaming your name as encouragement. It’s something you’ll never experience any other time.”

Lewis

Camilla de Kare-Silver was relieved to have crossed the finish line saying, “I appreciate everyone’s support that they gave me along the way, the crowd were amazing. World Jewish Relief was amazing. I feel OK, I could do with a good stretch. I would do it again but not for a very long time.”

Camilla and family

Natalie Tydeman, World Jewish Relief trustee said, “The run sadly did not go as planned… But the target time was only one part of the goal. The more important goal was raising money to support World Jewish Relief’s fantastic work combating poverty and bringing hope to disadvantaged Jewish communities. On that front I am thrilled with the result. The £4000 raised makes a painful few hours seem very worthwhile.”

World Jewish Relief runners Maurice and Sam Helfgott, received a surprise mention during the official BBC One coverage of the London Marathon. The BBC’s Brendan Foster, who was commentating on his last marathon after 37 years chose his final announcement to speak about his friend, “Maurice Helfgott who’s running with his son Sam and they’re running for the charity World Jewish Relief, who brought his father Ben Helfgott to the UK after the war in 1945. Ben survived the Holocaust, was brought to Britain aged 16 and he ended up being the captain of the Great Britain weight lifting team in the 1956 and ’60 Olympics. He won a bronze medal in the 1958 Commonwealth Games. Good luck to Maurice Helfgott and his son Sam and best wishes to Ben who is now 87. That’s my last mention in the London Marathon, thank you.”

Maurice and Sam Helfgott

A big thank you to all our runners: Lucy Barnett, Victoria Herman, Joseph Davis, Camilla de Kare-Silver, Lewis Nelken, Mikhael Giabicani, Jonathan Levy, Tal Gurevich, Maurice and Sam Helfgott, Haim Nuriel, Gady Piazza, Shoshi Silverblatt, Gavriella Simson, Justin Samuels, Daniel Susser, Natalie Tydeman, Jun Wu, Spencer Simons, Daniel and Eli Kasmir.

We have spaces available for the London Marathon 2018.  Please contact Samantha Martin for more information.  Samantha@worldjewishrelief.org.  T: 020 8736 1265.

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